Electric socket and support holder for portable display lighting outfits



Dec. 9, 1958 A. ABRAMSON 2,864,070

' ELECTRIC SOCKET AND SUPPORT HOLDER FOR PORTABLE DISPLAY LIGHTING OUTFITS Filed May 25, 1955 INVENTOR. Tic]. E. AMA/MM flak/1mm b BY 14 7' TOKA/E/S United States Patent O ELECTRIC SOCKET AND SUPPORT HOLDER FOR 'PORTABLE DISPLAY LIGHTING OUTFITS Abraham Abramson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Raylite Electric Corp., Bronx, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application.May 23, 1955, Serial No. 510,436

6 Claims. '(Cl; 339-99) assembled parts are provided, which shall be economical to manufacture especially in quantity production, which shall be readily installed, positioned, adjusted and removed without requiring skilled labor and with minimum defacement to the finish of the supporting structure, and which shall be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which various illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a building wall portion formed with a window or a doorway frame having removably mounted in an outlining position a portable decorative electrically lighted outfit constructed toembody the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the lamp sockets and support holder as seen from line 2-2 in Fig. 1 with portions broken away to show the screw base connection..

Figs. 3 and 4 are views partly in cross section taken on lines 33 and 4-4 in Fig. 2, respectively, showing details of the assembly construction of the body of the socket and the support holder.

Figs. 5 and. 6 are cross-sectional views taken through the lamp socket onlines 55 and 6-6 in Fig. 4, respectively, showing further details of said assembly construction.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary side and front elevational views, respectively, of a modified form of base portion of the support holder having integral fastening means for removably securing the support holder to a supporting structure, Fig. 7 being partly broken away and showing in dot and dash lines the position of an integral fastener prong before being driven into securing position shown in full lines.

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary front and side elevational views, respectively, of another modified form of base portion of the support holder adapted to use a headed screw as the fastener means, andice Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of a socket fitted with a support holder similar to the improved form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, but of somewhat simpler construction.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 20 denotes a portable decorative electrically lighted outfit, removably mounted in an outlining position on a window or doorway frame F of a portion of a building wall W constructed to embody the invention, as for example, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each lamp socket 21 of said outfit 20,, except as to the improvements herein described and claimed, may be of any well known construction and, as here shown, is provided with a molded insulating husk or body portion 21:: forming a casing with a flared open end 21b and integral interior screw threads 21c. Said husk. interior construction may have inserted circuit making spring side contact member 21d extending through the molded screw thread 21c for connecting the screw threaded portion of base 22a of an incandescent lamp 22 which is replaceably mounted in said socket 21' and also for conmeeting with a spring end center contact member 212 with the screw base center contact 22b'in the well understood manner and as is clear from Figs. 2 to 6.

Said husk 21a may be provided with a molded insulating end closure cap 21 which when attached in position by suitable fasten-er: means grips a pair of lead Wires 20a and 20b to secure same and to electrically furnish power for lighting incandescent lamp 22 through said contact members 21d and 21e.

Casing or husk 21a; besides havingthe flared open end 21b, is provided with spaced apart oppositely positioned support retention grooves or slideways 21g and 21h in Which the spring side contactand cent-er contact members 21d and 212, respectively, each have edge portions slidingly inserted into effective operating position in said grooves 21g and 21h from the underside of a bracing rib 217', the latter being integrally formed to extend across and inwardly of the end. of the casing 21a opposite said flared open end 21b, as is clear from Figs. 3 to 6.

Said bracing rib 21 may have a down-projecting boss 21k and be provided with a through-bored passage for neatly accommodating a pin nail or screw 21m inserted therein and extending into the cap 21' to serve as said fastener means for securing said cap 21 in assembled position to the husk 21a, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Since bracing rib 211' is set back from a lower rim 2'1n of the husk 21a opposite said open flared end 2117 and the lowerrim 21n is cut away as at 21p, a through open passageway is provided through which lead wires 20a and 20b extend so as to be located in a proper position to be tapped by solderless connections, that is, as is clear. from Figs. 3 and 4, by insulation piercing ends or prongs 211 and 21s projecting from the side contact and center contact members 21d and 2112, respectively.

It is to be noted that a portion of inner surface 21g of cap- 21 is recessed to clear the boss 21k while the adjoining surface 211 is located to extend into the 'husk 21abeyond lower rim 21n andis shaped to form a backingsupport to counteract pressure forces exerted during.

the assembly fastening operation of cap 21 to the husk 21a. while simultaneously circuit tapping the prongs 211' and 21s to pierce the insulation covered lead wires 20a" and 2012, as is clear from Figs. 4 and'S.

As one feature of the invention, therev is incorporated in the improved construction of socket 21 a fitting or support holder 23 whereby decorative lighting outfits 20' of the character described can bev readily attached, ad justed and removed to fixed supports-without requiring skilled, labor and with a-minimum'defacement of finished surfaces of such supports;

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, support holder 23 may be made of a strip of sheet metal having a hook end 23a terminated by a spread wing finial or fitment 23b. Said hook end 23a may be formed to firmly engage about said husk lower rim 21n which is notched to receive the same for locating the fitment 23b to bear on portion of said surface 21t so that support holder 23 is tightly clamped between the husk 21a and cap 21f when secured together in place by fastener means 21m. A mid-portion 23c forms a continuation of hook end 23a to the left as seen in Figs. 2 and 5 extending part way along exterior side 21u of husk 21a and may then be folded over to extend to the right as at 23d a distance so that the angularly disposed hanger end 23e lies in a plane tangent to the contour of the cap 211, that is, as is clear from Fig. 2, the plane X--X of the supporting window or door frame F.

Hanger end 23e may be pierced centrally to receive a nail 24 which firmly secures the socket 21 in position on frame F, said nail 24 being provided with an extension head 24a to facilitate withdrawal of the nail 24 for dismounting the outfit 20 with practically no defacement of the finished surface of frame F.

The practical application and utility of the invention will now be apparent.

After constructing the parts as above described and shownin Figs. 1 to 6, the casing or husk 21a is assembled with the component spring side and center contact members 21d and 2le inserted into and supported for retention by slideways 21g and 21h, respectively, and with the nail 24 extending through bracing rib 21 and boss 21k. The cap 21 is then forced into clamping position to be firmly retained by nail 24 with lead wires 20a and 20b pierced by current tapping prongs 211' and 21s, respectively, and the support holder fitment 23b rigidly held between the husk 21a and cap 21f to complete the assembly of socket 21 with wires 20aand 20b. A plurality or string of sockets 21 may be assembled at spaced distances along wires 20a and 20b which may be terminated by suitable electric power circuit tapping means such as a conventional plug in the well understood manner to make a complete portable outfit 20. Sockets 21 may then be removably attached at spaced apart distances on frame F, as is clear from Fig. 1. The nailed mounting of hanger end 23e and the bearing of cap 21] on the surface of frame F provides a sturdy support for the outfit 20.

In Figs. 7 and 8, a modified form of angularly disposed hanger end 33e is shown to replace the requirement of nail 24. This may be accomplished by cutting or punching and bending a sharp pointed tongue 34 in the upraised form shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7, then for removably attaching the socket, not shown, to frame F, piercing pointed end 34a of tongue 34 is driven into the frame, as is clear from the full line position of tongue 34 shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The tongue 34 may be provided with an upstanding edge, lip or ledge 34b to facilitate retraction of the bent tongue by a prying instrument from said full line position to said dot and dash line position to dismount said socket without marring the finished surface of frame F.

In Figs. 9 and 10, another modified form of angularly disposed hanger end 43c is shown as a substitute for the nail mounting construction described above for use with hanger end 23c. Said hanger end 43:: may be punched with one or several overlapping keyhole shaped slots 43) as for example, as here shown disposed in cross formation. By providing either a headed nail or screw 44 permanently or temporarily driven into frame F with the head projecting beyond the surface of frame F, the socket, not shown, may be hung and secured in various angular relations therefrom by forming a bayonet type of joint, as is clear from Fig. 10.

Where'a relatively cheaper and simpler construction than support holder 23 is desired, modified form of support holder 53 shown in Fig. 11 may be provided. To this end, midportion 230 of support holder 23 with the folded over section 23d thereof are eliminated so that support holder 53 forms a Z-shaped structure. It is to be understood that such Z-shaped structure may also include either the angularly disposed hanger end 33:? or 43c described above.

It is thus seen that there is provided improved electric socket and support holder constructions whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electric light socket of portable lighting outfits constructed with a support holder for removably attaching to a support comprising a husk having an open end forming a casing for lamp current carrying contacts thereof into which opening a lamp base is inserted to connect with said contacts, said husk having a bottom end opposite said open end formed with a rim edge and a bracing rib extending within the husk adjacent said rim edge, a cap secured as a closure over said bottom end forming a joint thereat with a side-to-side through-passageway, insulation covered lead wires extending through Said passageway, said lamp contacts provided with current carrying insulation piercing prongs extending into said lead wires for making a solderless tapped electric connection therewith, said support holder having a fitment end anchored in said socket at said closure joint between said husk rim edge and the cap, the other end of said holder being provided with a surface attachment means, and fastener means retaining said closure joint and rigidly clamping said fitment end between the husk and cap.

2. The electric light socket of portable lighting outfits constructed with a support holder defined in claim 1 in which a portion of the support holder between the ends thereof is an angle L-shaped structure.

3. The electric light socket of portable lighting outfits constructed with a support holder defined in claim 1 in which the support holder is substantially a Z-shaped structure.

4. The electric light socket of portable lighting outfits constructed with a support holder defined in claim 1 in which said fitment end terminates in spread wings to provide a portion of said anchorage.

5. A construction of the character described comprising a two-part electric light socket having an intermediate joint region and forming a casing for lamp current carrying contacts thereof, said joint region having a passageway wherethrough insulation covered lead wires extend, insulation piercing prongs provided to extend from said lamp contacts extending into said lead wires for making a solderless tapped electric connecting therewith, a support holder having a fitment end clamp anchored between said two parts in said joint region spaced from the passageway, the other end of said holder being provided with a surface attachment means disposed in a plane spaced from that of said joint and in alignment with an extreme exterior cap surface of the socket, and fastener means retaining said two parts together and rigidly clamping said fitment end therebetween.

6. In a portable lighting outfit having electric light sockets each socket formed of two parts having an intermediate joint region, a support holder of substantially over-all L-shaped configuration having a fitment end disposed in one plane and terminating in spread wings to provide an anchorage in said joint region and having a hook for looping over an edge rim of said joint region adjoining said fitment end, the other end of said holder being provided With a surilzce attachment means disposed in a plane spaced from said fitment end plane,

a mid-bracing section of said holder extending beyond 5 the plane of said fitment end and along one of the socket parts in a direction opposite with respect to the plane of said surface attachment means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Woodrufi Sept. 27, 1932 Brooks et a1. Apr. 16, 1935 Benander Dec. 2, 1952 Brooks Oct. 27, 1953 Despard June 19, 1956 

